Cam actuated switch



July 6, 1965 R. HAWTHORN 3,193,651 I CAM ACTUATED SWITCH Filed Feb. 6, 1963 IN VEN TOR.

ROBERT HAWTHORN United States Patent 3,193,651 CAM ACTUATED SWITCH Robert Hawthorn, Scarborough, Ontario, (Ianada, as-

signor to Collins Radio Company, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Filed Feb. 6, 1963, Ser. No. 256,796 1 Claim. (Cl. 200-153) This invention relates in general to switches, and in particular to a double-contact switch.

The present switch comprises a movable element with contact points for engaging opposite sides of an insulated sheet having printed circuits on either side. The movable contact may be selectively moved to engage one or the other sides of the insulated sheet in response to a cam or other actuating means.

The structure thus formed comprises a very simple and effective switching means.

An object of the inveniton is to provide a simple and accurate switch.

Another object is to provide an improved switching mechanism.

A feature of the invention is found in the provision for a common contact formed with a pair of contact points which are selectively engageable with opposite sides of an insulating sheet which has a conductor mounted on either side.

Further features, objects, and advantages of this invention will be come apparent from the following description and claims when read in view of the drawing in which:

The figure illustrates the switch of the present inven tion.

A frame has a supporting bracket 11 on which is mounted a switch designated generally as 12. The switch comprises an insulating supporting means 13 through which extends a conductor 14. One end of the conductor 14 terminates in an arm 16 which carries a cam follower 17.

A double switch contact 18 of generally U-shaped is also connected to the end 16 of conductor 14. A first contact point 19 is attached to the U-shaped member 18 adjacent the arm 16 and a second contact point 21 is attached to the member 18 adjacent its opposite end.

The insulating member 13 also supports a sheet 22 of insulating material which has conductors 23 and 24 attached to its opposite sides. The conducting sheets 23 and 24 may be thin conductive foil, and are insulated from each other by the insulated member 22.

The frame 19 rotatably supports a shaft 26 which carries a cam 27 engageable with cam follower 17. Knob 28 is attached to shaft 26 to manually position the cam.

Lead 29 is electrically connected to the conducting sheet 23 and to a load 31 which has its opposite side connected to ground. A lead 32 is connected to the conducting sheet 24 and to a load 33 which has its opposite side connected to ground. A voltage source E, has one terminal connected to ground and the other terminal connected by lead 34 to contact 14.

In operation, when the cam follower 17 is in engage- 3,193,651 Patented July 6, 1965 ment with the low portion 36 of cam 27 contact 21 will engage sheet 23, and an electric connection will be made from the voltage source E to load 31. When knob 28 is turned so as to cause the high portion 37 of cam 27 to engage, the cam follower 17 contact 21 will disengage conducting sheet 23, and contact 19 will engage sheet 24. This will connect the voltage source E to the load 33. Thus, means are provided for selectively connecting load 31 or 33 to the voltage source. A second cam projection 38 is provided on cam 27 so that when the cam follower 17 engages the portion 38 neither contacts 21 or 19 engage sheets 23 or 24, and thus both loads are disconnected from the voltage source E It is to be realized, of course, that the end 16 of the contact 14 has sufficient flexibility to bias to cam follower toward the cam 27. Thus, it is seen that a simple and compact switch is provided which may be easily moved to any one of three positions.

Although this invention has been described with respect to a preferred embodiment, it is not to be so limited, as changes and modifications may be made which are within the full intended scope of the invention as defined by the appended claim.

I claim:

A switch comprising a supporting member, a sheet of insulation material attached to the supporting member and extending outwardly therefrom, conductors mounted on opposite sides of the insulating member, a U-shaped conductor attached to the supporting member contact points mounted on the inner sides of the U-shaped member alternatively engageable with said conductors, a cam follower attached to the U-shaped member, a cam rotatably supported by the supporting member and in engagement with the cam follower, and said cam formed with a high portion, a low portion, and an intermediate portion such that when the cam follower is in engagement with the low portion of the cam, the U-shaped contact engages one of the conductors on one side of the insulating mcmber,-..

and when the high portion of the cam is in engagement with the cam follower, the other conductor on the other side of the insulating member engages the U-shaped contact and when the cam follower engages the intermediate portion of the cam neither of said contacts engages a conductor.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 800,418 9/05 Varley 200153 1,114,225 10/14 Cahusac 200153 2,006,619 7/35 Babson.

2,128,427 8/38 Means 200144 2,229,585 1/41 Osenberg 200166 X 2,616,994 11/52 Luhn 200166 2,751,469 6/56 Torley et al. 200 -166 2,755,347 7/56 Allison 200-l66 FOREIGN PATENTS 14,696 7/61 Poland.

BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,193,651 July 6, 1965 Robert Hawthorn It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent reqiiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected,below.

Column 2, line 31, for "alternatively" read alternately Signed and sealed this 30th day of November 1965.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Amesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

